Kathmandu. President Ram Chandra Poudel has said the state should give priority to the dignity of farmers.

He said this while addressing the National Outstanding Farmers Award 2082 programme organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment here today.

“The happiness of the nation is hidden in the smile of the farmers and the prosperity of the country is embedded in the progress of the farmers.

Stating that agriculture is the major basis for the country’s prosperity, PM Oli stressed the need of advancing agriculture as the major foundation of the nation’s development besides the means of livelihood. “For this, a culture of working should be developed, and the hard work, sweat and dedication of the farmers has made the country’s economy dynamic,” he said.

He pointed out the need for the state, private sector and all stakeholders to be united to promote investment, technology, marketization and youth participation in agriculture.

“Agriculture sector should be made the mainstay of production, employment and prosperity along with the energy of youth, use of modern technology and farsighted policy of the state.

He said he was happy to honour the farmers who are the pillars of the nation’s development and carriers of the nation’s prosperity.

He said that the country’s prosperity would be made prosperous by the hard work, skills and skills of the farmers.

“I am of the view that the dream of building the nation can be materialized only if agriculture is developed as a respected, commercial and self-reliant sector,” he said.

He said economic prosperity was the need of the country after political change and expansion of agriculture, water resources, tourism, infrastructure, information technology and industry were the bases for the country’s development.

President Poudel said that the state should bring policies and programs in a planned manner to develop this sector as agriculture is the sector that creates employment opportunities for the youths in the country in the changing context. He also stressed on the need of prioritizing agriculture business and encouraging youths to run entrepreneurship-focused programmes.

He said the State would identify the problems and challenges in agriculture sector to take the country towards prosperity by achieving the goals specified in the Sixteenth Plan.

“It is imperative to make arrangement of agriculture loan in cheap interest rate to ensure investment, increase production and employment in the country and bring special programmes from the government, policymakers, planners and stakeholders to increase export,” he said.

Stating that both the government and the private sector should pay attention to creating investment-friendly environment to attract the returnee youths towards agriculture, he said marketing of farmers’ produce, timely supply of seeds and fertilizer, identification and management of farmers’ problems, identification and management of modern tools and equipments, concessional loan to farmers and agriculture insurance were the burning issues of the day.

On the occasion, President Poudel presented the best farmers award with a cash prize of Rs 200,000 each to 14 farmers from different parts of the country.